Lettice the Ice Princess CBeebies Bedtime Stories

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CBeebies Bedtime Story.

Now, you're almost ready.

Oh, hello. My name's Lulu.

I was just making sure that Rabbit was ready to see you.

Look she's wearing a sparkly skirt and top.

Perfect, because there's a little rabbit getting all dressed up,

ready to dance in tonight's bedtime story.

It's by Mandy Stanley

and is called Lettice - The Ice Princess.

Lettice Rabbit and her family lived high up on top of the hill.

Nibble, nibble, hop, hop - every day was the same,

until one winter afternoon.

Lettice peeped out to find the trees garlanded with icicles.

On the lake, children were whizzing over the ice on skates.

"That looks fun!" laughed Lettice, racing down to watch them.

Lettice leaned forwards, further and further,

but the bank gave way and she slid out across the lake.

"There's a rabbit!" cried a voice.

Lettice twizzled round and fell in front of a little girl.

"Hello," said the little girl. "My name's Ella."

Ella's friends giggled

as Lettice tried to stand up, wobbled and landed on her bottom.

"We're having a Winter Festival," explained the children.

"You can join in."

"I wish I could," whispered Lettice. "I haven't anything to wear."

"Don't worry," said Ella. "We'll help you dress up."

She smiled at Lettice.

"I'm a bit nervous, too.

"You see, I'm going to be crowned the Ice Princess.

"I'm sure you're going to bring me luck."

Ella helped Lettice skate over to a big box full of dresses.

Lettice couldn't wait to try one on, but they were all far too big.

So, Ella said, "Let's make a dress out of these scarves."

There was a soft pink one with pom-poms

and a gold sparkly one.

Lettice wrapped them around herself.

She could hardly believe what a pretty dress they made

as she looked at her reflection.

"There's one thing we've forgotten," said Ella's friend.

"Lettice hasn't got any skates."

Lettice's face fell.

How could she skate on her bare paws?

But the smallest girl said shyly,

"My lucky mascot is a tiny pair of skates

"and they look just the right size."

Shivering with excitement, Lettice tried them on

and they fitted perfectly.

At last, it was time for the festival to start.

The music was playing and Ella began to dance.

She was so graceful.

Her friends joined in and gently, they tugged Lettice after them.

Ella's friend proudly carried the shining tiara

to crown the Ice Princess.

Suddenly, she skated over a lump of ice and slipped!

Everyone shrieked in horror

as the tiara flew through the air and rolled towards the bank.

Lettice didn't even think.

Like a flash, she was off, whizzing over the ice.

The tiara had disappeared into the bushes,

but in no time, Lettice was there, burrowing through the snow.

The children whooped with joy as Lettice reappeared,

snowy, but triumphant.

Ella couldn't stop beaming with happiness

as she was crowned the Ice Princess.

She took off her bracelet of silver stars

and slipped it over Lettice's ears saying,

"Now, you're a princess, too."

Then, Lettice danced all by herself in front of the Ice Princess.

Her starry crown twinkled in the lights of the coloured lanterns

as she leaped and swayed to the music.

Soon, it was time for the children to go home.

They said Lettice could borrow the lucky skates to show her family.

"But you can keep my bracelet forever," said Ella, hugging her.

Lettice was still in a whirl when she got home.

"Come outside!" she cried.

Her little sisters and brothers peeped out and were very excited.

"Lettice is all starry like a princess!" they giggled.

The moon shone large and silver over the lake

as the rabbits raced down to play on the ice.

"I'm the luckiest rabbit alive," sighed Lettice,

and she showed them the dance of the Ice Princess.

And that story was called Lettice - The Ice Princess.

Wasn't it lovely that Lettice danced on the ice in a pair of skates?

I love dancing, just like her, but since the moon is shining,

it's time to stop dancing

and dream of skating in a winter wonderland

as you go to sleep.

I'll see you soon for another story. Have sweet dreams. Night-night.

Now then, Miss Rabbit. What kind of dancing do you like?